Stationary Stationery

by Chris on September 1, 2010

Look at that. A clever title and I can probably find it in the future. Okay. I have been trying to teach my children about the value of a written thank you recently. While I’m kind of obsessed with stationery, I have admittedly gotten away from using it as often as I should.

Thanks to winning a $50.00 gift card to Tiny Prints last fall, I was finally able to fulfill my return address label obsession. My husband sooo doesn’t get it, but I was as giddy as a school girl when these arrived the other day!

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I purchased 7 sets! I got everyday and holiday labels for us (hubs and myself) and for the kids. The only problem now was finding somewhere to keep all my paper goods so that I can’t use that as an excuse when it comes to sending out more correspondence. Enter Salvation Army, and my $2.99 cent organizer. Ewww.

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Wanna see what some glossy white spray paint and some cute paper can do for it? Ta da!

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I used my Silhouette machine (love her!) to cut out all the tab papers and the stickers! I have the address labels in front (the snowflake is for winter labels), and my stationery is in the back pockets.

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I wasn’t really sure how to label those just yet, so for now they stay blank. It’s quite girly and frilly, but it’s housed in my craft room–my girly and frilly room! I imagine you could go much more tailored with this as well. Decisions, decisions.

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She’s now stationed (stationed—hilarious) in her new home. On a gloomy day, I reached into my cheery stationery organizer and wrote my friend a note. Mission accomplished.

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{ 62 comments }

Ashley Ann September 1, 2010 at 10:59 pm

Ooh so perty! I love it's makeover!

Elizabeth (blue clear sky) September 1, 2010 at 11:04 pm

Very pretty and useful! I'm keeping an eye out for one of those.

chocoholic September 1, 2010 at 11:05 pm

I love it! You're so creative!

And I have a return address label obssession too! They're just so darn cute.

Janice September 1, 2010 at 11:09 pm

Just so lovely! Perfect!

Sandra {sawdust and paper scraps} September 1, 2010 at 11:14 pm

That is so pretty. I'm obsessed with cute paper and stickers and labels…too.

Jennifer September 1, 2010 at 11:17 pm

are you kidding me with this makeover? i love it! makes me want to rush to my nearest thrift store…

jen@eighteen25

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions September 1, 2010 at 11:27 pm

Pretty, pretty, Chris! I love it! What's in the middle part? Envelopes? I like how you made the dividers like that and you probably don't even need to label them. I love return address labels, too. Is it weird? Really? I hope not! Currently, I am content with my return address stamp, which has our monogram "P" in a pretty font and a lovely design. I bought one after I didn't win one last year.

Jennifer September 1, 2010 at 11:30 pm

Beautiful makeover project – thanks for sharing!

Nikki September 1, 2010 at 11:30 pm

Love it!!! And love that you are sending friends hand written notes…they are going to love finding such a surprise in the mail!!

Angie@Echoes of Laughter September 1, 2010 at 11:31 pm

I love it!! What a wonderful idea!

Cap Creations September 1, 2010 at 11:31 pm

OMGosh I just saw that same organizer at my local thrift store and I carried it around and ended up putting it back. Bummer, I know it's totally gone now that everyone saw this post! lol!

Can you just do a makeover of every item I contemplate buying?

stephanie September 1, 2010 at 11:36 pm

That makeover is amazing…My mom had one of those on her desk as I was growing up and you have given it such a fresh look…Nicely done..

Julie September 1, 2010 at 11:38 pm

Holy coincidence, Batman! I found that SAME ITEM at the thrift store Used a different color for the spray paint, and used it for a similar purpose. And I even blogged it! back in June or July I think. I will die laughing now. Do we know how to score a find, or what!

Pricklybranch Manor September 1, 2010 at 11:44 pm

LOVE THIS!!!! Thanks for sharing ;)

Stephanie September 1, 2010 at 11:56 pm

Too darn cute! Makes you want to send out something doesn't it? Great project for $2.99!

Nikki September 1, 2010 at 11:57 pm

OH. MY. GOODNESS!

Beth@The Stories of A2Z September 2, 2010 at 12:00 am

Adorable. Seriously love everything about it.

Mrs. Dew September 2, 2010 at 12:07 am

Awe that is SO cute!

Jill September 2, 2010 at 12:14 am

What a perfect find!!

amycornwell September 2, 2010 at 1:14 am

I'm amazed…you made that look so cute. It's beautiful! I need to put my "spray paint" glasses on before I go to the thrift store!

Andrea September 2, 2010 at 1:21 am

I love it. I am hoping to make enough card this year for all the birthdays next year. That would be a cute way to house them.

the thrifty ba September 2, 2010 at 2:08 am

LOVE THIS!

Jules September 2, 2010 at 2:13 am

So simple, and cute. I have to remember I can paint things like that…

Richella September 2, 2010 at 2:16 am

I'm not surprised to see that you bought that piece and painted it; I would have expected that kind of vision from you. But I am surprised that anyone would think to create such beautiful little dividers designed specifically for each cubby! That's more than creativity: that's the kind of right-brain-meets-left-brain stuff that just makes me stand back and admire. Really, really cool!

Nicola September 2, 2010 at 3:00 am

That is so cute – and usefull too!

Desiree @ Just Another Day in Paradise September 2, 2010 at 3:32 am

Very cute! Gotta love spray paint and scrapbook paper :-)

-Desiree

Country Dreaming September 2, 2010 at 3:39 am

Love it white.

Melinda

Megan {Honey We're Home} September 2, 2010 at 4:26 am

The white is perfect and I love how it looks with the wonderful paper! And I so "get" the return address thing:)

Handy Man, Crafty Woman September 2, 2010 at 4:32 am

That is is pretty! Nice job!

ugagirl30 September 2, 2010 at 10:37 am

I have the same one. Thanks for the inspiration!

Jacky {The Sweetest Petunia} September 2, 2010 at 12:31 pm

I love this! Stationary is one of my favorite things, so maybe I can use this as inspiration for a holder!

Colleen September 2, 2010 at 1:02 pm

so pretty! love tiny prints. I also have a slight obsession with address labels for us and the kids too. last year I did the holiday ones for the first time.

Laura September 2, 2010 at 1:11 pm

Spray paint makes the world go round!

Kristen September 2, 2010 at 2:57 pm

Pretty! If I left that out there would be purple crayon all over those notes!

Renae September 2, 2010 at 2:59 pm

Oh my goodness, my parents had that EXACT organizer when I was a kid. Makes me wish we still had it!! Cute stuff.

Kelli September 2, 2010 at 2:59 pm

I LOVE those tabs. This makes me realize that I need to order some return address labels and send a few cards.

Rhonda September 2, 2010 at 4:36 pm

When do we get to see your craft room? I have been waiting FOREVER!!!! Love the peeks of it you showed.

Autumn Twig September 2, 2010 at 4:42 pm

now THAT is a super makeover. LOVE your idea

Blarney September 2, 2010 at 5:14 pm

So why aren't you over at my house helping me decorate again?!

Julie September 2, 2010 at 6:18 pm

Very cute makeover for your all "stationery" supplies… and because it doesn't move it's considered "stationary". A little spelling trick to help us all remember is: "stationery" has "er" in it just like "letter". :)

Kate September 2, 2010 at 6:33 pm

I love this makeover, but your photos really make me want a tour of your craft room. Is that a framed peg-board in there? Fabulous!

Dee September 2, 2010 at 7:26 pm

I have a Silhouette but I would have never thought to make adorable dividers with it! Stationery is my favorite. I used to own a stationery company so I create my own! (It took me a few years to want to do it for fun again!)

The Crazy Crabb September 2, 2010 at 7:28 pm

Oh my goodness I want one! That is beautiful. Just found your blog, and I am loving it!

Angie September 2, 2010 at 8:37 pm

Love it! I, too, am obsessed with stationary and hand written notes. I just love them!

Angie September 2, 2010 at 8:37 pm

Love it! I, too, am obsessed with stationary and hand written notes. I just love them!

Sarah September 2, 2010 at 8:55 pm

oh my gosh, i think that used to be mine!!! I dropped it off at a Salvation Army not too long ago. That is hilarious!! :)

That looks so much better now and I would actually use it unlike before!!!

Renae September 2, 2010 at 9:02 pm

I had a thought (I posted earlier that I wish we still had this), I actually think we do, on my dad's desk! So mom's on the hunt for it. In the meantime, maybe you can do a tutorial for us about those tabbed numbers. Tell us about the application…can you only do it on the Silhouette. I'm thinking of getting one since mom has a Cricut. Thanks!!

Chic Mummy September 3, 2010 at 12:01 pm

I love return address labels, too, but I love your organiser even more. My Silhouette should be arriving any day now, so you can guess what is my first project!

Stacy@The Project Shoppe September 4, 2010 at 9:44 pm

So adorable & functional too! My Granny had that same organizer….hmmm….wonder if she still does?

April September 4, 2010 at 10:36 pm

I found that exact organizer thingy about a year ago at a thrift store- and yes, spray painted it white. I just shove my bills in mine and so it doesn't look quite as orderly as yours…but I'm working on that part of my life.

I never comment on this blog- but when I saw that we must think alike, I had to say something.

Do you know I mainly read your blog to see whatever funny thing it is you're going to write?

Laura September 5, 2010 at 4:06 am

This is adorable. It's amazing what a little paint can do.

Ali @ Honey and Maple Syrup September 6, 2010 at 2:14 am

Ooo, I love those papers! Super cute!

pinkpatrice September 6, 2010 at 5:39 pm

I wanna peg board. :)

April September 7, 2010 at 3:46 am

So cute! I love the papers!

Terrell September 8, 2010 at 2:55 pm

Sooo darling!! I love the transformation! I'm happy to be your newest follower of your delightful blog and I'd love to have you as a friend at Frou Frou Decor! I'd also like to invite you to link your wonderful creations up at my weekly party, Fabulous Friday Finds, every Friday! Hope to see you there!
Hugs,
~Terrell @ Frou Frou Decor~

Traci September 9, 2010 at 2:28 pm

I love it!! I have the exact same organizer, did you use spray paint that is for plastic? Thank you for inspiring so many.

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Ms. Martha Lilian December 28, 2010 at 4:20 pm

This is GORGEOUS! I'll definitely be on the lookout for a stationary organizer. As it is, all of my cards are thrown into one big basket, so this is a perfect solution.

beth March 4, 2012 at 7:32 pm

CUTE! (I do have a spelling pet peeve – stationAry is when something is stAnding – stationEry is what you write on with a pEn – so sorry, couldn’t help myself).

Chris March 5, 2012 at 6:59 pm

Hi Beth, my post is correct. Are you just saying it’s a pet peeve in general?

lyndsey @ the stationery place April 11, 2012 at 5:51 pm

love this! i’m always happy to see another fellow snail mail aficionado since i’m a bit obsessed with it myself :) hooray for stationery!

Asante F. April 18, 2012 at 11:07 pm

I have one of those exact organizers never thought to paint it…..
Thanks for the Inspiration yepee!!!!! on my way Lowes….

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